Friction nozzle



1943- J. J. DE LA ROZA, SR 2,452,555

FRICTION NOZZLE Filed Jan. 3, 1944 22 jay. 1.,

INENTOR. Joaquin J. de/afizgfiz Patented Nov. 2, 1948 2,452,555 rnrc'rron No in Joaquin .L de la Roza, Sn, New York, N. Y.

Application January 3, rate, Serial No. 516,818

2 Elaims.

This invention relates to improvements in an automatic variable friction nozzle and refers more particularly to a device for impeding the travel of material passing therethrough by imposing constrictive pressure upon the material. The nozzle is used in conjunction with a pressure device such as a ram or piston or other feeding means for causing the passage of material through the nozzle.

Many applications are contemplated for the friction nozzle such as use in the manufacture of pulp from vegetable materials and in the chemical treatment of various substances in which the treatment is followed by a pressing operation to remove the chemical or liquid diluent. Other adaptations include the extraction of sugar juices from cane, oil from cotton seed, castor beans and soybeans, the extraction of fats from fat-containing substances and juices from fruits, berries or vegetables. In the manufacture of pulp the nozzle is particularly adapted for use in the extraction of liquors and washing liquids after the pulping operation which follows digestion and may also be used at the inlet end of the digester to facilitate the formation of a plug or cork where the material itself is used as a seal in the charging or inlet end of the digester.

Among the advantages of the device is its simplicity, its eflicacy in maintaining constant pressure and density of the material and the uniformity of the extraction of liquid due to the constant pressures maintained without becoming inoperative due to clogging behind the valve.

As many varying factors will influence friction conditions in the nozzle, including the rate of movement, the plug-forming qualities of material passing therethrough, the size and contour of the passageway, the sensitive and accurate regulation of the nozzle, it is essential to adequately compensate for such variations. The advantages of this wide range of control and provisions for automatically compensating for variations which occur will be obvious.

The invention is not to be confused with the conventional friction plates used in screw or other presses or check valve press outlets. The nozzle will under normal operating conditions fulfill any of the above functions besides performing its primary function of maintaining a relatively constant density or consistency in the material passing therethrough.

- The nozzle is admirably adapted for use in all pressing operations where the extraction of fluid from absorbent material is desired. For chemically treating, decomposing or otherwise acting upon substances by impregnating material with liquors. gases or vapors where pressing is an important adjunct, the nozzle can be advantageously used. Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are used tov indicate like parts in the various views;

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the inlet end of the nozzle;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the outlet end of the nozzle;

Fig. 3 is a side sectional view showing the interior mechanism and location and operation of the valve; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line i-- i in Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

Although the invention is applicable to a large number of processes, as previously suggested, it will be described herein particularly with relation to the extraction of liquor from pulp produced as a result of the acid or alkaline cooking of cellulose-bearing materials under heat and pressure.

The semi-liquid mass of digested pulp and liquor delivered from the digester is first introduced into a pressing device such as a piston or ram reciprocated in a cylinder. This pump or rain charges the digested stock through the nozzle passageway from inlet to outlet against frictional pressure imposed by a pivoted friction block positioned in the nozzle to impede free passage of the stock therethrough. The piston or ram with its facilities for draining off extracted liquid has been omitted from the drawings in the interest of simplicity as it forms no part of the instant invention except insofar as it supplies the necessary movement or energy to the stock for its passage through the nozzle.

Referring to the drawings, the nozzle consists of a body portion in through which is a longitudinal passage II. The upper part of the body is shaped to accommodate a swinging prismoidal friction plate H which is pivoted in the body at l3 and has an enlarged free end I211, which swings upon the pivot I3 through an are shown in the dotted and full lines in Fig. 3.

Also in a side of the body and located above the plate when the nozzle is positioned as in Fig. 3 is a cylinder Ma suitably flanged to receive a head it held in place by bolts l5. Within the cylinder is a piston l6 whose lower end is tapered as shown at Ila and contacts the side of the plate I! near its free end. Above the piston is a gland i1 adjustable by bolt it upon packing I! to assure a pressure-tight seal between the walls of the piston and cylinder. The ends of the nozzle body are flanged as shown at 20 and II.

To flange 20 is bolted an inlet connection 22 having an opening 23 which is circular in cross section and slightly tapered as shown. To the flange 2| at the opposite end of the body is bolted a discharge connection 24 likewise having a passageway therethrough which, however, is square in cross section as shown at 25 in Fig. 2.

Inset in the wall of the valve body and surrounding the valve i2 is a gasket or seal ring 28 whose function is. to prevent passage of liquid or other material by the sides or ends of the valve into the top of the body above the valve block making it inoperative. A relief valve 21 is tapped into the top of the body above the sealing gasket 26 to permit discharge of pressure in the event of leakage or failure of the gasket. Additional plugs in the sides-or ends of the housing shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 may be used with relief valve 21 for cleaning the space within jccted to treatment with acid or alkaline liquors,

the treated stock is picked up by a pressing device which imposes pressure upon the stock. This pressing device as explained is conventionally a reciprocating ram or screw which forces the stock through the friction nozzle.

From the ram or pressure piston the stock enters the nozzle through inlet connection 23 and passes longitudinally through the passageway Ii. This passageway is rectangular in cross section as shown in Fig. 4 and has positioned therein the elongated prismoidal friction plate i2. This block is pivoted near the inlet end at (3 on a suitable stub shaft. The valve is free to swing within the nozzle passageway limiting and constricting the size of the passageway according to the position of piston iii. The location of the piston is governed by fluid introduced into pipe 28 and counteracting pressures imposed by the material passing through the nozzle. In other words, as a. result of the pressures imposed upon the material causing it to pass through the nozzle,

valve i2 will be urged or swung to free the passageway. Simultaneously fluid pressure behind the piston i6 introduced through pipe 28 will tend to swing the piston across the pasageway obstructing the passage of the material and counteracting pressure imposed by the ram. 'The balance or resultant force between these 4 Thus a relatively accurate control is maintained upon the extent of liquid extraction by regulation of the relative pressures imposed on the stock and above the piston.

As a-safety measure in case of failure of the pressure fluid, return of the block to an open position is prevented by a suitable stop such as screw 28 which may be set at any desired position. The function of this screw is solely that of a stop since movement of piston i6 is controlled by pressure fluid introduced through pipe 28, the position of the piston governing the position of the valve.

As previously suggested, should liquid leak by gasket 26 it may be relieved through valve 21. Where the nozzle is used with corrosive substances it is contemplated to employ suitable material and make proper provision for counteracting such corrosive effects.

It will be appreciated that a number of nozzles of this character may be interposed in a system where a plurality of presses are used and wherever a definite and accurately controlled pressing operation is to be effected in each press.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention is well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth, togetherwith other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A nozzle device for imposing frictional and constrictive pressures upon materials passing therethrough comprising a body with a longitudinal passageway of rectangular cross section and a closure chamber communicating with the passageway, an inlet and outlet for the passage-'- way, a closure member having the shape of a sector of a cylinder and pivoted along the edge opposite its curved surface and adjacent the inlet to the passageway, the free end moving in an arc across the outlet, a groove in the body surrounding the closure member, a packing strip in the groove forming with said member a liquidtight seal between the passageway and the closure chamber, a cylinder communicating with the closure chamber, a piston in the cylinder movable into and out of the closure chamber, said piston having its end abutting the closure member near the free end of said member, and a source of gas pressure connected to the cylinder whereby said piston causes said closure member to exert a predetermined pressure on the material passing through the passageway.

2. A nozzle device for imposing frictional and constrictive pressures upon materials passing therethrough comprising a body with a longitudinal passageway of rectangular cross section and a closure chamber communicating with the passageway, an inlet and outlet for the passageway,

a closure having the shape of a sector of a cylinder and pivoted along the edge opposite its curved surface and adjacent the inlet to the passageway, the free end moving inan arc across the outlet, a packing strip in the body surrounding the valve and forming a liquid-tight seal between the passageway and the closure chamber, a penumatic cylinder having its piston connected to the closure for positioning tlge closure 5 in the passageway and a relief valve in the closure Number chamber. 1,128,228 JOAQUIN J. DE LA ROZA, SR. 1,470,460 2,025,665 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,081,842

The following references are of record in the file of th1s patent: Number UNITED STATES PATENTS 10,178 Number Name Date 525,002 Buckminster Aug. 28, 1894 995,057 Cowler June 13, 1911 Name Date Collar Feb. 9, 1915 Lorraine Oct. 9, 1923 Dickinson Dec. 24, 1935 Sharp May 25, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France 1909 (First add1t1on to N0. 394,450) 

